To use this patch, run these commands for a successful build:

    patch -p1 <patches/atimes.diff
    ./configure                      (optional if already run)
    make

based-on: 1ddcdaf3f6808ba53aef9e19f630a18808de22ac
diff --git a/compat.c b/compat.c
--- a/compat.c
+++ b/compat.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ extern int protocol_version;
 extern int protect_args;
 extern int preserve_uid;
 extern int preserve_gid;
+extern int preserve_atimes;
 extern int preserve_acls;
 extern int preserve_xattrs;
 extern int need_messages_from_generator;
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ extern char *iconv_opt;
 #endif
 
 /* These index values are for the file-list's extra-attribute array. */
-int uid_ndx, gid_ndx, acls_ndx, xattrs_ndx, unsort_ndx;
+int uid_ndx, gid_ndx, atimes_ndx, acls_ndx, xattrs_ndx, unsort_ndx;
 
 int receiver_symlink_times = 0; /* receiver can set the time on a symlink */
 int sender_symlink_iconv = 0;	/* sender should convert symlink content */
@@ -140,6 +141,8 @@ void setup_protocol(int f_out,int f_in)
 		uid_ndx = ++file_extra_cnt;
 	if (preserve_gid)
 		gid_ndx = ++file_extra_cnt;
+	if (preserve_atimes)
+		atimes_ndx = (file_extra_cnt += TIME_EXTRA_CNT);
 	if (preserve_acls && !am_sender)
 		acls_ndx = ++file_extra_cnt;
 	if (preserve_xattrs)
diff --git a/flist.c b/flist.c
--- a/flist.c
+++ b/flist.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ extern int preserve_devices;
 extern int preserve_specials;
 extern int delete_during;
 extern int eol_nulls;
+extern int atimes_ndx;
 extern int relative_paths;
 extern int implied_dirs;
 extern int ignore_perishable;
@@ -392,7 +393,7 @@ static void send_file_entry(int f, const char *fname, struct file_struct *file,
 #endif
 			    int ndx, int first_ndx)
 {
-	static time_t modtime;
+	static time_t modtime, atime;
 	static mode_t mode;
 #ifdef SUPPORT_HARD_LINKS
 	static int64 dev;
@@ -476,6 +477,13 @@ static void send_file_entry(int f, const char *fname, struct file_struct *file,
 		xflags |= XMIT_SAME_TIME;
 	else
 		modtime = file->modtime;
+	if (atimes_ndx && !S_ISDIR(mode)) {
+		time_t file_atime = f_atime(file);
+		if (file_atime == atime)
+			xflags |= XMIT_SAME_ATIME;
+		else
+			atime = file_atime;
+	}
 
 #ifdef SUPPORT_HARD_LINKS
 	if (tmp_dev != -1) {
@@ -547,6 +555,8 @@ static void send_file_entry(int f, const char *fname, struct file_struct *file,
 	}
 	if (!(xflags & XMIT_SAME_MODE))
 		write_int(f, to_wire_mode(mode));
+	if (atimes_ndx && !S_ISDIR(mode) && !(xflags & XMIT_SAME_ATIME))
+		write_varlong(f, atime, 4);
 	if (preserve_uid && !(xflags & XMIT_SAME_UID)) {
 		if (protocol_version < 30)
 			write_int(f, uid);
@@ -632,7 +642,7 @@ static void send_file_entry(int f, const char *fname, struct file_struct *file,
 
 static struct file_struct *recv_file_entry(int f, struct file_list *flist, int xflags)
 {
-	static int64 modtime;
+	static int64 modtime, atime;
 	static mode_t mode;
 #ifdef SUPPORT_HARD_LINKS
 	static int64 dev;
@@ -765,6 +775,16 @@ static struct file_struct *recv_file_entry(int f, struct file_list *flist, int x
 	}
 	if (!(xflags & XMIT_SAME_MODE))
 		mode = from_wire_mode(read_int(f));
+	if (atimes_ndx && !S_ISDIR(mode) && !(xflags & XMIT_SAME_ATIME)) {
+		atime = read_varlong(f, 4);
+#if SIZEOF_TIME_T < SIZEOF_INT64
+		if (!am_generator && (int64)(time_t)atime != atime) {
+			rprintf(FERROR_XFER,
+				"Access time value of %s truncated on receiver.\n",
+				lastname);
+		}
+#endif
+	}
 
 	if (chmod_modes && !S_ISLNK(mode))
 		mode = tweak_mode(mode, chmod_modes);
@@ -915,6 +935,8 @@ static struct file_struct *recv_file_entry(int f, struct file_list *flist, int x
 		F_GROUP(file) = gid;
 		file->flags |= gid_flags;
 	}
+	if (atimes_ndx)
+		f_atime_set(file, (time_t)atime);
 	if (unsort_ndx)
 		F_NDX(file) = flist->used + flist->ndx_start;
 
@@ -1289,6 +1311,8 @@ struct file_struct *make_file(const char *fname, struct file_list *flist,
 		F_GROUP(file) = st.st_gid;
 	if (am_generator && st.st_uid == our_uid)
 		file->flags |= FLAG_OWNED_BY_US;
+	if (atimes_ndx)
+		f_atime_set(file, st.st_atime);
 
 	if (basename != thisname)
 		file->dirname = lastdir;
diff --git a/generator.c b/generator.c
--- a/generator.c
+++ b/generator.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "rsync.h"
+#include "ifuncs.h"
 
 extern int verbose;
 extern int dry_run;
@@ -682,6 +683,9 @@ void itemize(const char *fnamecmp, struct file_struct *file, int ndx, int statre
 		 : iflags & (ITEM_TRANSFER|ITEM_LOCAL_CHANGE) && !(iflags & ITEM_MATCHED)
 		  && (!(iflags & ITEM_XNAME_FOLLOWS) || *xname))
 			iflags |= ITEM_REPORT_TIME;
+		if (atimes_ndx && !S_ISDIR(file->mode) && !S_ISLNK(file->mode)
+		 && cmp_time(f_atime(file), sxp->st.st_atime) != 0)
+			iflags |= ITEM_REPORT_ATIME;
 #if !defined HAVE_LCHMOD && !defined HAVE_SETATTRLIST
 		if (S_ISLNK(file->mode)) {
 			;
@@ -1058,6 +1062,8 @@ static int try_dests_reg(struct file_struct *file, char *fname, int ndx,
 		if (link_dest) {
 			if (!hard_link_one(file, fname, cmpbuf, 1))
 				goto try_a_copy;
+			if (atimes_ndx)
+				set_file_attrs(fname, file, sxp, NULL, 0);
 			if (preserve_hard_links && F_IS_HLINKED(file))
 				finish_hard_link(file, fname, ndx, &sxp->st, itemizing, code, j);
 			if (!maybe_ATTRS_REPORT && (verbose > 1 || stdout_format_has_i > 1)) {
@@ -1243,6 +1249,7 @@ static int try_dests_non(struct file_struct *file, char *fname, int ndx,
 static void list_file_entry(struct file_struct *f)
 {
 	char permbuf[PERMSTRING_SIZE];
+	time_t atime = atimes_ndx ? f_atime(f) : 0;
 	double len;
 
 	if (!F_IS_ACTIVE(f)) {
@@ -1257,14 +1264,16 @@ static void list_file_entry(struct file_struct *f)
 
 #ifdef SUPPORT_LINKS
 	if (preserve_links && S_ISLNK(f->mode)) {
-		rprintf(FINFO, "%s %11.0f %s %s -> %s\n",
+		rprintf(FINFO, "%s %11.0f %s %s %s -> %s\n",
 			permbuf, len, timestring(f->modtime),
+			atimes_ndx ? timestring(atime) : "",
 			f_name(f, NULL), F_SYMLINK(f));
 	} else
 #endif
 	{
-		rprintf(FINFO, "%s %11.0f %s %s\n",
+		rprintf(FINFO, "%s %11.0f %s %s %s\n",
 			permbuf, len, timestring(f->modtime),
+			atimes_ndx ? timestring(atime) : "",
 			f_name(f, NULL));
 	}
 }
@@ -2120,7 +2129,7 @@ static void touch_up_dirs(struct file_list *flist, int ndx)
 			STRUCT_STAT st;
 			if (link_stat(fname, &st, 0) == 0
 			 && cmp_time(st.st_mtime, file->modtime) != 0)
-				set_modtime(fname, file->modtime, file->mode);
+				set_times(fname, file->modtime, file->modtime, file->mode);
 		}
 		if (counter >= loopchk_limit) {
 			if (allowed_lull)
diff --git a/ifuncs.h b/ifuncs.h
--- a/ifuncs.h
+++ b/ifuncs.h
@@ -67,6 +67,28 @@ d_name(struct dirent *di)
 #endif
 }
 
+static inline time_t
+f_atime(struct file_struct *fp)
+{
+#if SIZEOF_TIME_T > 4
+	time_t atime;
+	memcpy(&atime, &REQ_EXTRA(fp, atimes_ndx)->unum, SIZEOF_TIME_T);
+	return atime;
+#else
+	return REQ_EXTRA(fp, atimes_ndx)->unum;
+#endif
+}
+
+static inline void
+f_atime_set(struct file_struct *fp, time_t atime)
+{
+#if SIZEOF_TIME_T > 4
+	memcpy(&REQ_EXTRA(fp, atimes_ndx)->unum, &atime, SIZEOF_TIME_T);
+#else
+	REQ_EXTRA(fp, atimes_ndx)->unum = (uint32)atime;
+#endif
+}
+
 static inline int
 isDigit(const char *ptr)
 {
diff --git a/log.c b/log.c
--- a/log.c
+++ b/log.c
@@ -658,7 +658,8 @@ static void log_formatted(enum logcode code, const char *format, const char *op,
 			c[5] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_PERMS) ? '.' : 'p';
 			c[6] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_OWNER) ? '.' : 'o';
 			c[7] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_GROUP) ? '.' : 'g';
-			c[8] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_ATIME) ? '.' : 'u';
+			c[8] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_ATIME) ? '.'
+			     : S_ISLNK(file->mode) ? 'U' : 'u';
 			c[9] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_ACL) ? '.' : 'a';
 			c[10] = !(iflags & ITEM_REPORT_XATTR) ? '.' : 'x';
 			c[11] = '\0';
diff --git a/options.c b/options.c
--- a/options.c
+++ b/options.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ int preserve_specials = 0;
 int preserve_uid = 0;
 int preserve_gid = 0;
 int preserve_times = 0;
+int preserve_atimes = 0;
 int update_only = 0;
 int cvs_exclude = 0;
 int dry_run = 0;
@@ -352,6 +353,7 @@ void usage(enum logcode F)
   rprintf(F," -D                          same as --devices --specials\n");
   rprintf(F," -t, --times                 preserve modification times\n");
   rprintf(F," -O, --omit-dir-times        omit directories from --times\n");
+  rprintf(F," -U, --atimes                preserve access (last-used) times\n");
   rprintf(F,"     --super                 receiver attempts super-user activities\n");
 #ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
   rprintf(F,"     --fake-super            store/recover privileged attrs using xattrs\n");
@@ -489,6 +491,9 @@ static struct poptOption long_options[] = {
   {"times",           't', POPT_ARG_VAL,    &preserve_times, 1, 0, 0 },
   {"no-times",         0,  POPT_ARG_VAL,    &preserve_times, 0, 0, 0 },
   {"no-t",             0,  POPT_ARG_VAL,    &preserve_times, 0, 0, 0 },
+  {"atimes",          'U', POPT_ARG_VAL,    &preserve_atimes, 1, 0, 0 },
+  {"no-atimes",        0,  POPT_ARG_VAL,    &preserve_atimes, 0, 0, 0 },
+  {"no-U",             0,  POPT_ARG_VAL,    &preserve_atimes, 0, 0, 0 },
   {"omit-dir-times",  'O', POPT_ARG_VAL,    &omit_dir_times, 1, 0, 0 },
   {"no-omit-dir-times",0,  POPT_ARG_VAL,    &omit_dir_times, 0, 0, 0 },
   {"no-O",             0,  POPT_ARG_VAL,    &omit_dir_times, 0, 0, 0 },
@@ -1784,6 +1789,8 @@ void server_options(char **args, int *argc_p)
 		argstr[x++] = 'D';
 	if (preserve_times)
 		argstr[x++] = 't';
+	if (preserve_atimes)
+		argstr[x++] = 'U';
 	if (preserve_perms)
 		argstr[x++] = 'p';
 	else if (preserve_executability && am_sender)
diff --git a/rsync.c b/rsync.c
--- a/rsync.c
+++ b/rsync.c
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ int set_file_attrs(const char *fname, struct file_struct *file, stat_x *sxp,
 	int updated = 0;
 	stat_x sx2;
 	int change_uid, change_gid;
+	time_t atime, mtime;
 	mode_t new_mode = file->mode;
 	int inherit;
 
@@ -423,22 +424,40 @@ int set_file_attrs(const char *fname, struct file_struct *file, stat_x *sxp,
 		set_xattr(fname, file, fnamecmp, sxp);
 #endif
 
+	/* This code must be the first update in the function due to
+	 * how it uses the "updated" variable. */
 	if (!preserve_times
 	 || (!(preserve_times & PRESERVE_DIR_TIMES) && S_ISDIR(sxp->st.st_mode))
 	 || (!(preserve_times & PRESERVE_LINK_TIMES) && S_ISLNK(sxp->st.st_mode)))
 		flags |= ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME;
+	if (!atimes_ndx || S_ISDIR(sxp->st.st_mode))
+		flags |= ATTRS_SKIP_ATIME;
 	if (!(flags & ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME)
 	    && cmp_time(sxp->st.st_mtime, file->modtime) != 0) {
-		int ret = set_modtime(fname, file->modtime, sxp->st.st_mode);
+		mtime = file->modtime;
+		updated = 1;
+	} else
+		mtime = sxp->st.st_mtime;
+	if (!(flags & ATTRS_SKIP_ATIME)) {
+		time_t file_atime = f_atime(file);
+		if (cmp_time(sxp->st.st_atime, file_atime) != 0) {
+			atime = file_atime;
+			updated = 1;
+		} else
+			atime = sxp->st.st_atime;
+	} else
+		atime = sxp->st.st_atime;
+	if (updated) {
+		int ret = set_times(fname, mtime, atime, sxp->st.st_mode);
 		if (ret < 0) {
 			rsyserr(FERROR_XFER, errno, "failed to set times on %s",
 				full_fname(fname));
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
-		if (ret == 0) /* ret == 1 if symlink could not be set */
-			updated = 1;
-		else
+		if (ret > 0) { /* ret == 1 if symlink could not be set */
+			updated = 0;
 			file->flags |= FLAG_TIME_FAILED;
+		}
 	}
 
 	change_uid = am_root && uid_ndx && sxp->st.st_uid != (uid_t)F_OWNER(file);
@@ -578,7 +597,7 @@ int finish_transfer(const char *fname, const char *fnametmp,
 
 	/* Change permissions before putting the file into place. */
 	set_file_attrs(fnametmp, file, NULL, fnamecmp,
-		       ok_to_set_time ? 0 : ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME);
+		       ok_to_set_time ? 0 : ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME | ATTRS_SKIP_ATIME);
 
 	/* move tmp file over real file */
 	if (verbose > 2)
@@ -605,7 +624,7 @@ int finish_transfer(const char *fname, const char *fnametmp,
 
   do_set_file_attrs:
 	set_file_attrs(fnametmp, file, NULL, fnamecmp,
-		       ok_to_set_time ? 0 : ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME);
+		       ok_to_set_time ? 0 : ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME | ATTRS_SKIP_ATIME);
 
 	if (temp_copy_name) {
 		if (do_rename(fnametmp, fname) < 0) {
diff --git a/rsync.h b/rsync.h
--- a/rsync.h
+++ b/rsync.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 #define XMIT_GROUP_NAME_FOLLOWS (1<<11) /* protocols 30 - now */
 #define XMIT_HLINK_FIRST (1<<12)	/* protocols 30 - now (HLINKED files only) */
 #define XMIT_IO_ERROR_ENDLIST (1<<12)	/* protocols 31*- now (w/XMIT_EXTENDED_FLAGS) (also protocol 30 w/'f' compat flag) */
+#define XMIT_SAME_ATIME (1<<13)		/* protocols ?? - now */
 
 /* These flags are used in the live flist data. */
 
@@ -160,6 +161,7 @@
 
 #define ATTRS_REPORT		(1<<0)
 #define ATTRS_SKIP_MTIME	(1<<1)
+#define ATTRS_SKIP_ATIME	(1<<2)
 
 #define FULL_FLUSH	1
 #define NORMAL_FLUSH	0
@@ -652,12 +654,14 @@ extern int file_extra_cnt;
 extern int inc_recurse;
 extern int uid_ndx;
 extern int gid_ndx;
+extern int atimes_ndx;
 extern int acls_ndx;
 extern int xattrs_ndx;
 
 #define FILE_STRUCT_LEN (offsetof(struct file_struct, basename))
 #define EXTRA_LEN (sizeof (union file_extras))
 #define PTR_EXTRA_CNT ((sizeof (char *) + EXTRA_LEN - 1) / EXTRA_LEN)
+#define TIME_EXTRA_CNT ((SIZEOF_TIME_T + EXTRA_LEN - 1) / EXTRA_LEN)
 #define DEV_EXTRA_CNT 2
 #define DIRNODE_EXTRA_CNT 3
 #define SUM_EXTRA_CNT ((MAX_DIGEST_LEN + EXTRA_LEN - 1) / EXTRA_LEN)
diff --git a/rsync.yo b/rsync.yo
--- a/rsync.yo
+++ b/rsync.yo
@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ to the detailed description below for a complete description.  verb(
  -D                          same as --devices --specials
  -t, --times                 preserve modification times
  -O, --omit-dir-times        omit directories from --times
+ -U, --atimes                preserve access (use) times
      --super                 receiver attempts super-user activities
      --fake-super            store/recover privileged attrs using xattrs
  -S, --sparse                handle sparse files efficiently
@@ -1058,6 +1059,12 @@ it is preserving modification times (see bf(--times)).  If NFS is sharing
 the directories on the receiving side, it is a good idea to use bf(-O).
 This option is inferred if you use bf(--backup) without bf(--backup-dir).
 
+dit(bf(-U, --atimes)) This tells rsync to set the access (use) times of the
+destination files to the same value as the source files.  Note that the
+reading of the source file may update the atime of the source files, so
+repeated rsync runs with --atimes may be needed if you want to force the
+access-time values to be 100% identical on the two systems.
+
 dit(bf(--super)) This tells the receiving side to attempt super-user
 activities even if the receiving rsync wasn't run by the super-user.  These
 activities include: preserving users via the bf(--owner) option, preserving
@@ -1809,7 +1816,10 @@ quote(itemization(
   sender's value (requires bf(--owner) and super-user privileges).
   it() A bf(g) means the group is different and is being updated to the
   sender's value (requires bf(--group) and the authority to set the group).
-  it() The bf(u) slot is reserved for future use.
+  it() A bf(u) means the access (use) time is different and is being updated to
+  the sender's value (requires bf(--atimes)).  An alternate value of bf(U)
+  means that the access time will be set to the transfer time, which happens
+  when a symlink or directory is updated.
   it() The bf(a) means that the ACL information changed.
   it() The bf(x) means that the extended attribute information changed.
 ))
diff --git a/syscall.c b/syscall.c
--- a/syscall.c
+++ b/syscall.c
@@ -302,15 +302,15 @@ OFF_T do_lseek(int fd, OFF_T offset, int whence)
 }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_UTIMENSAT
-int do_utimensat(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec)
+int do_utimensat(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec, time_t atime, uint32 a_nsec)
 {
 	struct timespec t[2];
 
 	if (dry_run) return 0;
 	RETURN_ERROR_IF_RO_OR_LO;
 
-	t[0].tv_sec = 0;
-	t[0].tv_nsec = UTIME_NOW;
+	t[0].tv_sec = atime;
+	t[0].tv_nsec = a_nsec;
 	t[1].tv_sec = modtime;
 	t[1].tv_nsec = mod_nsec;
 	return utimensat(AT_FDCWD, fname, t, AT_SYMLINK_NOFOLLOW);
@@ -318,15 +318,15 @@ int do_utimensat(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec)
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LUTIMES
-int do_lutimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec)
+int do_lutimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec, time_t atime, uint32 a_nsec)
 {
 	struct timeval t[2];
 
 	if (dry_run) return 0;
 	RETURN_ERROR_IF_RO_OR_LO;
 
-	t[0].tv_sec = time(NULL);
-	t[0].tv_usec = 0;
+	t[0].tv_sec = atime;
+	t[0].tv_usec = a_nsec;
 	t[1].tv_sec = modtime;
 	t[1].tv_usec = mod_nsec / 1000;
 	return lutimes(fname, t);
@@ -334,22 +334,22 @@ int do_lutimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec)
 #endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_UTIMES
-int do_utimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec)
+int do_utimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec, time_t atime, uint32 a_nsec)
 {
 	struct timeval t[2];
 
 	if (dry_run) return 0;
 	RETURN_ERROR_IF_RO_OR_LO;
 
-	t[0].tv_sec = time(NULL);
-	t[0].tv_usec = 0;
+	t[0].tv_sec = atime;
+	t[0].tv_usec = a_nsec;
 	t[1].tv_sec = modtime;
 	t[1].tv_usec = mod_nsec / 1000;
 	return utimes(fname, t);
 }
 
 #elif defined HAVE_UTIME
-int do_utime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, UNUSED(uint32 mod_nsec))
+int do_utime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, UNUSED(uint32 mod_nsec), time_t atime, UNUSED(uint32 a_nsec))
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_STRUCT_UTIMBUF
 	struct utimbuf tbuf;
@@ -361,11 +361,11 @@ int do_utime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, UNUSED(uint32 mod_nsec))
 	RETURN_ERROR_IF_RO_OR_LO;
 
 # ifdef HAVE_STRUCT_UTIMBUF
-	tbuf.actime = time(NULL);
+	tbuf.actime = atime;
 	tbuf.modtime = modtime;
 	return utime(fname, &tbuf);
 # else
-	t[0] = time(NULL);
+	t[0] = atime;
 	t[1] = modtime;
 	return utime(fname, t);
 # endif
diff --git a/testsuite/atimes.test b/testsuite/atimes.test
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testsuite/atimes.test
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+
+# Test rsync copying atimes
+
+. "$suitedir/rsync.fns"
+
+mkdir "$fromdir"
+
+touch "$fromdir/foo"
+touch -a -t 200102031717.42 "$fromdir/foo"
+
+TLS_ARGS=--atimes
+
+checkit "$RSYNC -rtUgvvv \"$fromdir/\" \"$todir/\"" "$fromdir" "$todir"
+
+# The script would have aborted on error, so getting here means we've won.
+exit 0
diff --git a/testsuite/rsync.fns b/testsuite/rsync.fns
--- a/testsuite/rsync.fns
+++ b/testsuite/rsync.fns
@@ -220,6 +220,10 @@ checkit() {
     # We can just write everything to stdout/stderr, because the
     # wrapper hides it unless there is a problem.
 
+    if test x$TLS_ARGS = x--atimes; then
+	( cd "$2" && rsync_ls_lR . ) > "$tmpdir/ls-from"
+    fi
+
     echo "Running: \"$1\""  
     eval "$1" 
     status=$?
@@ -227,10 +231,13 @@ checkit() {
 	failed="$failed status=$status"
     fi
 
+    if test x$TLS_ARGS != x--atimes; then
+	( cd "$2" && rsync_ls_lR . ) > "$tmpdir/ls-from"
+    fi
+
     echo "-------------"
     echo "check how the directory listings compare with diff:"
     echo ""
-    ( cd "$2" && rsync_ls_lR . ) > "$tmpdir/ls-from"
     ( cd "$3" && rsync_ls_lR . ) > "$tmpdir/ls-to"
     diff $diffopt "$tmpdir/ls-from" "$tmpdir/ls-to" || failed="$failed dir-diff"
 
diff --git a/tls.c b/tls.c
--- a/tls.c
+++ b/tls.c
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ static int stat_xattr(const char *fname, STRUCT_STAT *fst)
 
 #endif
 
+static int display_atimes = 0;
+
 static void failed(char const *what, char const *where)
 {
 	fprintf(stderr, PROGRAM ": %s %s: %s\n",
@@ -114,12 +116,29 @@ static void failed(char const *what, char const *where)
 	exit(1);
 }
 
+static void storetime(char *dest, time_t t, size_t destsize)
+{
+	if (t) {
+		struct tm *mt = gmtime(&t);
+
+		snprintf(dest, destsize,
+			"%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d ",
+			(int)mt->tm_year + 1900,
+			(int)mt->tm_mon + 1,
+			(int)mt->tm_mday,
+			(int)mt->tm_hour,
+			(int)mt->tm_min,
+			(int)mt->tm_sec);
+	} else
+		strlcpy(dest, "                    ", destsize);
+}
+
 static void list_file(const char *fname)
 {
 	STRUCT_STAT buf;
 	char permbuf[PERMSTRING_SIZE];
-	struct tm *mt;
-	char datebuf[50];
+	char mtimebuf[50];
+	char atimebuf[50];
 	char linkbuf[4096];
 
 	if (do_lstat(fname, &buf) < 0)
@@ -158,19 +177,11 @@ static void list_file(const char *fname)
 
 	permstring(permbuf, buf.st_mode);
 
-	if (buf.st_mtime) {
-		mt = gmtime(&buf.st_mtime);
-
-		snprintf(datebuf, sizeof datebuf,
-			"%04d-%02d-%02d %02d:%02d:%02d",
-			(int)mt->tm_year + 1900,
-			(int)mt->tm_mon + 1,
-			(int)mt->tm_mday,
-			(int)mt->tm_hour,
-			(int)mt->tm_min,
-			(int)mt->tm_sec);
-	} else
-		strlcpy(datebuf, "                   ", sizeof datebuf);
+	storetime(mtimebuf, buf.st_mtime, sizeof mtimebuf);
+	if (display_atimes)
+		storetime(atimebuf, S_ISDIR(buf.st_mode) ? 0 : buf.st_atime, sizeof atimebuf);
+	else
+		atimebuf[0] = '\0';
 
 	/* TODO: Perhaps escape special characters in fname? */
 
@@ -181,13 +192,14 @@ static void list_file(const char *fname)
 		    (long)minor(buf.st_rdev));
 	} else /* NB: use double for size since it might not fit in a long. */
 		printf("%12.0f", (double)buf.st_size);
-	printf(" %6ld.%-6ld %6ld %s %s%s\n",
+	printf(" %6ld.%-6ld %6ld %s%s%s%s\n",
 	       (long)buf.st_uid, (long)buf.st_gid, (long)buf.st_nlink,
-	       datebuf, fname, linkbuf);
+	       mtimebuf, atimebuf, fname, linkbuf);
 }
 
 static struct poptOption long_options[] = {
   /* longName, shortName, argInfo, argPtr, value, descrip, argDesc */
+  {"atimes",          'U', POPT_ARG_NONE,   &display_atimes, 0, 0, 0},
   {"link-times",      'l', POPT_ARG_NONE,   &link_times, 0, 0, 0 },
   {"link-owner",      'L', POPT_ARG_NONE,   &link_owner, 0, 0, 0 },
 #ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
@@ -203,6 +215,7 @@ static void tls_usage(int ret)
   fprintf(F,"usage: " PROGRAM " [OPTIONS] FILE ...\n");
   fprintf(F,"Trivial file listing program for portably checking rsync\n");
   fprintf(F,"\nOptions:\n");
+  fprintf(F," -U, --atimes                display access (last-used) times\n");
   fprintf(F," -l, --link-times            display the time on a symlink\n");
   fprintf(F," -L, --link-owner            display the owner+group on a symlink\n");
 #ifdef SUPPORT_XATTRS
diff --git a/util.c b/util.c
--- a/util.c
+++ b/util.c
@@ -125,20 +125,24 @@ NORETURN void overflow_exit(const char *str)
 
 /* This returns 0 for success, 1 for a symlink if symlink time-setting
  * is not possible, or -1 for any other error. */
-int set_modtime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, mode_t mode)
+int set_times(const char *fname, time_t modtime, time_t atime, mode_t mode)
 {
 	static int switch_step = 0;
 
 	if (verbose > 2) {
-		rprintf(FINFO, "set modtime of %s to (%ld) %s",
+		char mtimebuf[200];
+
+		strlcpy(mtimebuf, timestring(modtime), sizeof mtimebuf);
+		rprintf(FINFO,
+			"set modtime, atime of %s to (%ld) %s, (%ld) %s\n",
 			fname, (long)modtime,
-			asctime(localtime(&modtime)));
+			mtimebuf, (long)atime, timestring(atime));
 	}
 
 	switch (switch_step) {
 #ifdef HAVE_UTIMENSAT
 #include "case_N.h"
-		if (do_utimensat(fname, modtime, 0) == 0)
+		if (do_utimensat(fname, modtime, 0, atime, 0) == 0)
 			break;
 		if (errno != ENOSYS)
 			return -1;
@@ -148,7 +152,7 @@ int set_modtime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, mode_t mode)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LUTIMES
 #include "case_N.h"
-		if (do_lutimes(fname, modtime, 0) == 0)
+		if (do_lutimes(fname, modtime, 0, atime, 0) == 0)
 			break;
 		if (errno != ENOSYS)
 			return -1;
@@ -167,10 +171,10 @@ int set_modtime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, mode_t mode)
 
 #include "case_N.h"
 #ifdef HAVE_UTIMES
-		if (do_utimes(fname, modtime, 0) == 0)
+		if (do_utimes(fname, modtime, 0, atime, 0) == 0)
 			break;
 #else
-		if (do_utime(fname, modtime, 0) == 0)
+		if (do_utime(fname, modtime, 0, atime, 0) == 0)
 			break;
 #endif
 
diff -up a/proto.h b/proto.h
--- a/proto.h
+++ b/proto.h
@@ -311,10 +311,10 @@ int do_stat(const char *fname, STRUCT_ST
 int do_lstat(const char *fname, STRUCT_STAT *st);
 int do_fstat(int fd, STRUCT_STAT *st);
 OFF_T do_lseek(int fd, OFF_T offset, int whence);
-int do_utimensat(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec);
-int do_lutimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec);
-int do_utimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec);
-int do_utime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, UNUSED(uint32 mod_nsec));
+int do_utimensat(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec, time_t atime, uint32 a_nsec);
+int do_lutimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec, time_t atime, uint32 a_nsec);
+int do_utimes(const char *fname, time_t modtime, uint32 mod_nsec, time_t atime, uint32 a_nsec);
+int do_utime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, UNUSED(uint32 mod_nsec), time_t atime, UNUSED(uint32 a_nsec));
 void set_compression(const char *fname);
 void send_token(int f, int32 token, struct map_struct *buf, OFF_T offset,
 		int32 n, int32 toklen);
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ int fd_pair(int fd[2]);
 void print_child_argv(const char *prefix, char **cmd);
 NORETURN void out_of_memory(const char *str);
 NORETURN void overflow_exit(const char *str);
-int set_modtime(const char *fname, time_t modtime, mode_t mode);
+int set_times(const char *fname, time_t modtime, time_t atime, mode_t mode);
 int mkdir_defmode(char *fname);
 int create_directory_path(char *fname);
 int full_write(int desc, const char *ptr, size_t len);
diff -up a/rsync.1 b/rsync.1
--- a/rsync.1
+++ b/rsync.1
@@ -428,6 +428,7 @@ to the detailed description below for a
  \-D                          same as \-\-devices \-\-specials
  \-t, \-\-times                 preserve modification times
  \-O, \-\-omit\-dir\-times        omit directories from \-\-times
+ \-U, \-\-atimes                preserve access (use) times
      \-\-super                 receiver attempts super\-user activities
      \-\-fake\-super            store/recover privileged attrs using xattrs
  \-S, \-\-sparse                handle sparse files efficiently
@@ -1221,6 +1222,13 @@ it is preserving modification times (see
 the directories on the receiving side, it is a good idea to use \fB\-O\fP.
 This option is inferred if you use \fB\-\-backup\fP without \fB\-\-backup\-dir\fP.
 .IP 
+.IP "\fB\-U, \-\-atimes\fP"
+This tells rsync to set the access (use) times of the
+destination files to the same value as the source files.  Note that the
+reading of the source file may update the atime of the source files, so
+repeated rsync runs with \-\-atimes may be needed if you want to force the
+access\-time values to be 100% identical on the two systems.
+.IP 
 .IP "\fB\-\-super\fP"
 This tells the receiving side to attempt super\-user
 activities even if the receiving rsync wasn\(cq\&t run by the super\-user.  These
@@ -2074,7 +2082,10 @@ sender\(cq\&s value (requires \fB\-\-own
 A \fBg\fP means the group is different and is being updated to the
 sender\(cq\&s value (requires \fB\-\-group\fP and the authority to set the group).
 .IP o 
-The \fBu\fP slot is reserved for future use.
+A \fBu\fP means the access (use) time is different and is being updated to
+the sender\(cq\&s value (requires \fB\-\-atimes\fP).  An alternate value of \fBU\fP
+means that the access time will be set to the transfer time, which happens
+when a symlink or directory is updated.
 .IP o 
 The \fBa\fP means that the ACL information changed.
 .IP o 
